ALL OF THE focus this week has been on the Republic of Ireland’s Group D showdown with the Scots on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium.
But there are a number of other crucial Euro 2016 games to look forward to this weekend. Here’s the pick of the bunch.
Wales v Belgium
Wales' Gareth Bale and Belgium's Nacer Chadli battle for the ball. Adam Davy
Adam Davy
After recently moving into second place in the world rankings, Belgium now travel to Cardiff to face Wales in a battle of the top two in Group B.
Wales are an outstanding run of form under Chris Coleman, which has seen them suffer just one defeat in their last 10 games and reach their highest ever position in the FIFA world rankings. Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey get a lot of plaudits but it’s their defence that have made the difference, keeping three clean sheets in their last five fixtures.
It is a battle of two form teams though, as Belgium have only lost once in 17 games. That one defeat was against Argentina in the World Cup. They haven’t looked their best in the opening games, drawing with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Wales but have improved in recent games.
They put four past France last time out and, although they conceded a few goals late on, looked very good. Both sides are currently on the same amount of points and it promises to be a very entertaining game.
Iceland v Czech Republic
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Czech Republic's Pavel Kaderabek, leaps in the air to score against the Czechs in November. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
There’s also a battle at the top of the table in Group A, where Iceland will be looking to avenge their defeat to Czech Republic before Christmas. Their last game was a tight encounter, with a Jón Dadi Bödvarsson own-goal giving Czech Republic a 2-1 win in Plzen.
Czech Republic are one of 11 sides still unbeaten in Euro 2016 qualifying at the halfway stage. Iceland have won all of their Group C games except for their loss to the Czech Republic and are unbeaten in five competitive home match. They have also not conceded in their last four competitive outings at Laugardalsvöllur so home advantage could prove crucial.
Croatia v Italy
A firefighter removes a flare from the field of play during Italy's match with Croatia at the San Siro. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Italy’s squad has been in a bit of transition period and they have struggled to reach their potential since last summer’s World Cup. Despite this, they make the trip to Croatia just two points behind their hosts in Group H.
Since last summer’s World Cup, Croatia have only lost once in eight games — a friendly to World Cup finalists Argentina. They have recorded four wins from five matches so far and look to be by far the strongest team in the group.
Italy have struggled for goals. They haven’t yet scored more than twice in a single game during in this campaign, and only scraped by Azerbaijan and Malta by single goal margins. On current form, they will have to put in a significantly improved performance in the final third to leave Eastern Europe with more than one point.
Northern Ireland v Romania
Northern Ireland's Kyle Lafferty (right) and Romania's Vlad Chiriches battle for the ball. Nick Potts
Nick Potts
Saturday’s match with Romania is arguably the most important game Northern Ireland have played in years. If Michael O’Neill’s side can get the better of the Romanians at Windsor Park it will take them to the top of Group F and make a trip to France next summer a real likelihood.
Northern Ireland have never reached a European Championship but after making a remarkable start to this campaign, with four wins in five games, things are looking good at the halfway mark of qualifying. O’Neill’s men are only a point behind Romania, four clear of Hungary in third and eight points ahead of fourth-placed Finland.
The only defeat they have suffered was to the Romanians, but they were far from outplayed, going down 2-0 to a pair of late goals. A result won’t be easy, even with home advantage, with Romania unbeaten in nine games in all competitions.
Russia v Austria
Russia's Aleksandr Kokorin, left, and Austria's Martin Hinteregger, challenge for the ball. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Still unbeaten in Group G in the European Qualifiers, Austria can take a significant stride towards Euro 2016 with an away victory against Russia on Sunday.
Russia are unbeaten in 11 competitive home qualifiers since a 1-0 loss to Slovakia in Euro 2012 qualifying, on 7 September 2010. But Fabio Capello’s side were disappointing in the World Cup and have continued that form into the groups. They now sit third behind Sweden and Austria.
Rubin Okotie’s 73rd-minute goal in Vienna secured a 1-0 win for Austria back in November.
England v Slovenia
Danny Welbeck scores England's third goal of the match in November. Daniel Hambury
Daniel Hambury
Although recent draws in friendly matches against Italy and Ireland have been anything but encouraging, England should have no problem getting back to winning ways against Slovenia in the Stadion Stožice in Ljubljana on Sunday night.
England are always good in qualification and have not disappointed in this campaign. They have been in exceptional form since exiting at the group-stage in Brazil last summer and are yet to drop a point in Group E.
Slovenia have won their last four competitive home games but don’t have enough to keep England out. This should be a similar game to the 3-1 win for England at Wembley.
Bale v Hazard, a huge game for Northern Ireland and this weekend's crucial qualifiers
ALL OF THE focus this week has been on the Republic of Ireland’s Group D showdown with the Scots on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium.
But there are a number of other crucial Euro 2016 games to look forward to this weekend. Here’s the pick of the bunch.
Wales v Belgium
After recently moving into second place in the world rankings, Belgium now travel to Cardiff to face Wales in a battle of the top two in Group B.
Wales are an outstanding run of form under Chris Coleman, which has seen them suffer just one defeat in their last 10 games and reach their highest ever position in the FIFA world rankings. Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey get a lot of plaudits but it’s their defence that have made the difference, keeping three clean sheets in their last five fixtures.
It is a battle of two form teams though, as Belgium have only lost once in 17 games. That one defeat was against Argentina in the World Cup. They haven’t looked their best in the opening games, drawing with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Wales but have improved in recent games.
They put four past France last time out and, although they conceded a few goals late on, looked very good. Both sides are currently on the same amount of points and it promises to be a very entertaining game.
Iceland v Czech Republic
There’s also a battle at the top of the table in Group A, where Iceland will be looking to avenge their defeat to Czech Republic before Christmas. Their last game was a tight encounter, with a Jón Dadi Bödvarsson own-goal giving Czech Republic a 2-1 win in Plzen.
Czech Republic are one of 11 sides still unbeaten in Euro 2016 qualifying at the halfway stage. Iceland have won all of their Group C games except for their loss to the Czech Republic and are unbeaten in five competitive home match. They have also not conceded in their last four competitive outings at Laugardalsvöllur so home advantage could prove crucial.
Croatia v Italy
Italy’s squad has been in a bit of transition period and they have struggled to reach their potential since last summer’s World Cup. Despite this, they make the trip to Croatia just two points behind their hosts in Group H.
Since last summer’s World Cup, Croatia have only lost once in eight games — a friendly to World Cup finalists Argentina. They have recorded four wins from five matches so far and look to be by far the strongest team in the group.
Italy have struggled for goals. They haven’t yet scored more than twice in a single game during in this campaign, and only scraped by Azerbaijan and Malta by single goal margins. On current form, they will have to put in a significantly improved performance in the final third to leave Eastern Europe with more than one point.
Northern Ireland v Romania
Saturday’s match with Romania is arguably the most important game Northern Ireland have played in years. If Michael O’Neill’s side can get the better of the Romanians at Windsor Park it will take them to the top of Group F and make a trip to France next summer a real likelihood.
Northern Ireland have never reached a European Championship but after making a remarkable start to this campaign, with four wins in five games, things are looking good at the halfway mark of qualifying. O’Neill’s men are only a point behind Romania, four clear of Hungary in third and eight points ahead of fourth-placed Finland.
The only defeat they have suffered was to the Romanians, but they were far from outplayed, going down 2-0 to a pair of late goals. A result won’t be easy, even with home advantage, with Romania unbeaten in nine games in all competitions.
Russia v Austria
Still unbeaten in Group G in the European Qualifiers, Austria can take a significant stride towards Euro 2016 with an away victory against Russia on Sunday.
Russia are unbeaten in 11 competitive home qualifiers since a 1-0 loss to Slovakia in Euro 2012 qualifying, on 7 September 2010. But Fabio Capello’s side were disappointing in the World Cup and have continued that form into the groups. They now sit third behind Sweden and Austria.
Rubin Okotie’s 73rd-minute goal in Vienna secured a 1-0 win for Austria back in November.
England v Slovenia
Although recent draws in friendly matches against Italy and Ireland have been anything but encouraging, England should have no problem getting back to winning ways against Slovenia in the Stadion Stožice in Ljubljana on Sunday night.
England are always good in qualification and have not disappointed in this campaign. They have been in exceptional form since exiting at the group-stage in Brazil last summer and are yet to drop a point in Group E.
Slovenia have won their last four competitive home games but don’t have enough to keep England out. This should be a similar game to the 3-1 win for England at Wembley.
Originally published at 18.10
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